Molly Stark, a Heroine and Inspiration during the American Revolution

Courtesy of Skylight Studios

Molly (Page) Stark (1737-1814), whose husband General John Stark was a hero in the American Revolution, has been honored for her own role in the war.

On June 26, 2004, officials, historians and members of the Stark family unveiled the Elizabeth Page Molly Stark statue in Wilmington, as part of Vermont's Molly Stark Trail, a 40-mile scenic byway on Route 9 between Bennington and Brattleboro.

The statue depicts Molly Stark mid-stride, holding a child on one arm, against her hip and a musket in the other arm. It was sculpted by artist Robert Shure of Skylight Studios Shure, who also created a sculpture of General Stark.

Molly was the wife and the mother of 11 children, and was said to be an inspiration to her husband and his regiment of New Hampshire men who fought during the American Revolution. She served as a nurse when many of the soldiers developed smallpox and opened up their home as an infirmary.

When General Stark was preparing to lead his men into the famous Battle of Bennington against the British and Hessian forces, he told them, “There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow!"

After the war, Stark returned to his wife Molly and lived out their lives on their farm, where they raised their family. Molly died on June 29, 1814 from typhus fever, and her husband died at age 94 in 1822. They are buried in the Stark Family Gravesite, Stark Park in Manchester, NH.

An historical marker is outside the Molly Stark home in Dunbarton, NH, which was built by her father, Captain Caleb Page.

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